Gosh, us folks with 58's are about to become somewhat unwelcome around here,
I fear. I totally missed the exchanges following Doug's post on Sunday.
After it came in, I lost contact with IML. My, my. I'm glad I did. I was
returned to contact with the IML just in time to see Jeff's post asking
everyone to cool it. I must go the archives when I can to see what I
missed.
(Suffice it to say I am hard core MOPAR, and my rebuilt stock generator is
just fine, thanks, with no need for any kind of so-called upgrade.)
Anyhoo, my belt situation has been coming along. The first sets of belts I
acquired using the numbers from Andy Bernbaum, were too big. The numbers I
got from Mikey seemed to cause even more confusion, I'm afraid. I removed
the remaining, smaller, belt from the car and also measured the length
required for the larger ones with some string.
I returned the belts to NAPA. I ended up with a correct pair, the shorter
ones. Their NAPA number is 7420. The middle two numbers are the ones
relevant to length. 42 inches. Unfortunately, the larger set was now too
small. I started of with 7730 (73 inch) belts. I measured 65 1/2 inches
using the string, but the 7650 belts, which it actually says on the label
are 65 5/8 inches long, were significantly too short.
I figure that using string is not very effective. It was very light string
and I pulled it tight, so I must have lost an inch or two, since I was
measuring from the very bottom of the ridges on all three pulleys.
Now, you just know how thrilled NAPA was to see me again. Actually, the
guys at the warehouse are pretty cool. It is some twenty miles from where I
live and who knows how many other parts stores I will drive by on my way
there, but sometimes you have to, if I may dare be so corny, go the extra
mile. I came home with no less than five different lengths of belts. A 66,
67 ,68, 69 & a 70 belt. I will go out to the garage tomorrow and see which
one fits best. To return the extras and get a second one of the correct
length will involve a fourth trip back there. One hundred and sixty miles,
all told, to replace some belts. Oh well.
So who said having a 58 was actually supposed to be fun?
The good new is that although I did have to remove the radiator fan and the
belt pulley that goes between it and the water pump, I did not have to
remove the fan shroud or drain the radiator in order to remove the hose that
would have impeded removal of the fan. With some gentle movement I was able
to move the fan one way and the pulley the other. Even better is that to
re-install the larger set of belts, it is quite easy to slip them past the
fan blades. The generator is designed to be adjustable, so I anticipate no
more significant problems in making one of the belts I got today fit.
At last, a note of optimism.
Hugh
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